Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018
363. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 292 of 23 October 2018, if he will provide a copy of the most recent data from the geographical information system that was gathered for the school planning area for Skerries in addition to details of the demographic exercises mentioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45781/18]
View answerIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
For school planning purposes, Skerries is located in the Skerries school planning area which is currently served by one post-primary school. The following post-primary schools were established in recent years in the adjoining school planning areas of Rush&Lusk and Balbriggan:
- 1,000 pupil post-primary school established in 2013 to serve the Rush&Lusk school planning area;
- 700 pupil post-primary school established in 2014 to serve the Balbriggan school planning area; and
- 700 pupil post-primary school established in 2016 to serve the Balbriggan school planning area.
The demographic data for the Skerries school planning area indicates that enrolments are projected to peak in 2023 at just over 1,000 post-primary pupils. While there is also an element of additional residential development in this area, it is not of a level that would require a new school. The requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular would have regard for the increased roll-out of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
My Department has been liaising with the school’s patron in relation to an application for additional accommodation at the post-primary school in this school planning area. In this regard, my Department has approved in principle the provision of additional permanent accommodation consisting of 3 general classrooms, 1 Science Lab, 1 Art room and 3 Special Education Teaching rooms. As an interim arrangement, my Department has also approved the rental of temporary accommodation to the school pending the delivery of the permanent accommodation solution. My Department will continue to work with the patron to address the school’s interim and long-term accommodation needs.
